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Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick

Title: Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick

Publisher: Viking 2013

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 398

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; 52 Books - W33; Perpetual (NonAd)

Boston in 1775 is an island city occupied by British troops after a series of incendiary incidents by patriots who range from sober citizens to thuggish vigilantes. After the Boston Tea Party, British and American soldiers and Massachusetts residentshave warily maneuvered around each other until April 19, when violence finally erupts at Lexington and Concord.  In June, however, with the city cut off from supplies by a British blockade and Patriot militia poised in siege, skirmishes give way to outright war in the Battle of Bunker Hill. It would be the bloodiest battle of the Revolution to come, and the point of no return for the rebellious colonists.

Been meaning to pick this one up for awhile now. And I enjoyed every page of this volume. Such a great exploration of the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence focusing on the Boston area. I loved following each of the players through the few years detailed. Philbrick scores again with a great narrative history. Even with my background knowledge of the Revolution, I still learned a lot about the details of the time period. Fascinating!

tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Nathaniel Philbrick, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure, U-S- History
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 08.16.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Title: Childhood's End

Author: Arthur C. Clarke

Publisher: 1953

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 240

Rating: 4/5 stars   TV Miniseries: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: NPR SciFi/Fan (perpetual); Popsugar - Science Fiction; Book to Movie

Without warning, giant silver ships from deep space appear in the skies above every major city on Earth. Manned by the Overlords, in fifty years, they eliminate ignorance, disease, and poverty. Then this golden age ends--and then the age of Mankind begins....

My first Arthur C. Clarke book! And I think I did pick a good one. I love how we are throw right into the action and forced to figure out the situation along with most of mankind. From there we get three distinct books showing three different ages after the appearance of the Overlords. I loved reading about the progress of humanity and the implications of having no war, no starvation, etc. Clarke poses some interesting questions as to the fate of mankind. And then we learn more about the true intentions of the Overlords. I won't give away any spoilers, but I will say that I was very intrigued by the last third of the book.

TV Miniseries:

I had to wait until J finished reading the book, but we finally got around to watching the Syfy miniseries. And it was bad y'all... So very bad. The first episode was decent although the timeline was accelerated. Annoying, but not really bad. The second and third episodes went completely off the rails. The show focused on Ricky's invented dead wife for far too long. The tone became very confusing. I think we were to fear the Overlords and read into them a sinister intent which was so not what I read in the book. Milo was given an unnecessary girlfriend that resulted in a very disturbing scene right at the end. After finishing, I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth. Did not enjoy...

tags: 2 stars, 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Arthur C- Clarke, Book to Movie, Popsugar, science fiction
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Friday 08.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Title: Curtsies and Conspiracies(The Finishing School #2)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 329

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W32

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

My fun series for August! After reading a bunch of nonfiction books, I needed something light and fluffy. This volume was just the thing! I love Sophronia and her motley crew of intelligencers and assorted helpers. I wished to see more of Soap and Vieve int his volume. We got a decent amount of Soap, but Vieve was left to just make appearances. And it seems that Vieve will not be regulated to guest appearances in the series. Boo! She's amazing! But we did get an appearance from some powerful vampires, most notable Lord Akeldama, one of my favorite characters from the Parasol Protectorate series. Will be diving into the third book soon...

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted by Tevi Troy

Title: What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted: 200 Years of Popular Culture in the White House

Author: Tevi Troy

Publisher: Regnery 2013

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 332

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; Nonfiction Adventure (perpetual)

America is a country built by thinkers on a foundation of ideas. Alongside classic works of philosophy and ethics, however, our presidents have been influenced by the books, movies, TV shows, viral videos, and social media sensations of their day. In What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted: 200 Years of Popular Culture in the White House presidential scholar and former White House aide Tevi Troy combines research with witty observation to tell the story of how our presidents have been shaped by popular culture.

An interesting collection of tidbits about pop culture and presidents. I learned a decent amount of trivia. Well, the volume is well-written, I knew a fair amount of the information presented. I especially enjoyed the chapters focusing on the presidents of the mid 20th century. Very interesting discussions on how Nixon and Reagan used pop culture.

tags: 3 stars, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure, U-S- History, U-S- Presidents
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 08.06.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Rat Queens Vol. 1 and 2

Title: Rat Queens Vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery

Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe, Laura Tayishati, Roc Upchurch, Fiona Staples

Publisher: Image 2014

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 128

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

Who are the Rat Queens? A pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they're in the business of killing all god's creatures for profit. It's also a darkly comedic sass-and-sorcery series starring Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Smidgen Thief. This modern spin on an old school genre is a violent monster-killing epic that is like Buffy meets Tank Girl in a Lord of the Rings world on crack!

This volume is so much fun! I love to see some ladies kicking ass and the Rat Queens definitely do that! The series has an awesome mix of action and humor. It's definitely got a bit of mystery thrown in there also. My favorite character so far is Dee. I love her backstory and her whole attitude. Definitely going to pick up the next volume when I visit the library again.

Title: Rat Queens Vol. 2: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'Rygoth

Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe, Stjepan Sejic

Publisher: Image 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 136

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novels

A brand-new, booze-soaked tale of the Rat Queens reveals a growing menace within the very walls of Palisade. And while Dee may have run from her past, the bloated, blood-feasting sky god N’rygoth never really lets his children stray too far.

Oh... loving this volume. we get a continuation of the mystery storyline and lots of great action. Dee is still my favorite character in the series. I loved learning more about each of the Rat Queens through the glimpses of the past brought on by alcohol and monsters. Trust me it works. Sad that my library doesn't have Volume 3 yet...

tags: 5 stars, graphic novel
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.05.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Title: Everything I Never Told You

Author: Celeste Ng

Publisher: Penguin 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 297

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Summer; Women Authors; 52 Books - W31

“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.

This was our book club selection for August and I have to say that I'm disappointed. I don't think this is a bad book necessarily. I just didn't really connect to the characters or like the plotline. It reminded me of The Virgin Suicides without the atmosphere. I wasn't very excited about anything that happened. The emotional connection to the characters just fell flat for me. After so many recommendations and appearances on Best of Books lists, I was expecting something that would really hit home. But nope... Oh well.

tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Celeste Ng, fiction, Popsugar, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 08.03.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

An Innocent, A Broad by Ann Leary

Title: An Innocent, A Broad

Author: Ann Leary

Publisher: William Morrow 2004

Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir

Pages: 244

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; Popsugar - Autobiography; Perpetual (NonAd)

When Ann Leary and her husband, then unknown actor-comedian Denis Leary, flew to London in the early nineties for a brief getaway during Ann's second trimester of pregnancy, neither anticipated the adventure that was in store for them. The morning after their arrival, Ann's water broke as they strolled through London's streets. A week later their son, Jack, was born weighing only two pounds, six ounces, and it would be five long months before mother and son could return to the States.

In the meantime, Ann became an unwitting yet grateful hostage to Britain's National Health Service -- a stranger in a strange land plunged abruptly into a world of breast pumps and midwives, blood oxygen levels, mad cow disease, and poll tax riots. Desperately worried about the health of her baby, Ann struggled to adapt to motherhood and make sense of a very different culture. At once an intimate family memoir, a lively travelogue, and a touching love story, An Innocent, a Broad is utterly engaging and unforgettable.

Our book club selection for August and I'm just not that impressed. This memoir of early motherhood in a different country until hard circumstances just didn't pull my heartstrings that much. The focus on the neonatal unit wasn't that interesting. The focus on life in a foreign city was more interesting, but was too infrequent for me to really be excited. Overall I read this, but I'm afraid it's just not for me.

tags: 3 stars, Ann Leary, memoir, nonfiction
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 08.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

George Washington's Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade

Title: George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Save the American Revolution

Author: Brian Kilmeade

Publisher:Sentinel 2013

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 236

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure (perpetual); Nonfiction; Book to Movie

When George Washington beat a hasty retreat from New York City in August 1776, many thought the American Revolution might soon be over. Instead, Washington rallied—thanks in large part to a little-known, top-secret group called the Culper Spy Ring. He realized that he couldn’t defeat the British with military might, so he recruited a sophisticated and deeply secretive intelligence network to infiltrate New York.

Drawing on extensive research, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger have offered fascinating portraits of these spies: a reserved Quaker merchant, a tavern keeper, a brash young longshoreman, a curmudgeonly Long Island bachelor, a coffeehouse owner, and a mysterious woman. Long unrecognized, the secret six are finally receiving their due among the pantheon of American heroes.

I'll admit that I picked this up because of my love of watching Turn: Washington's Spies. For all my background in U.S. History, I had never really learned much about the Culper Ring other than it existed. I wanted to see if the tv show was at all factual. While there are certain liberties taken to amp up the dramatic flair and a few characters combined or changed slightly, the show is true to the spirit of the ring. Many historical characters do appear (Tallmadge, Simcoe, Rivington, Brewster, Woodhull, and Townsend). I enjoyed this quick introduction to the Culper Ring and spies during the American Revolution. I knocked off a star because of just how short this volume is. I would have liked more in depth information, maybe more about the actual methods they employed or more detailed accounts of how their ring fit into the larger picture. Very good, but not amazing.

tags: 4 stars, Brian Kilmeade, nonfiction, U-S- History
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.29.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Title: Thunderstruck

Author: Erik Larson

Publisher: Crown 2006

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 463

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W30

Set in Edwardian London and on the stormy coasts of Cornwall, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia, Thunderstruck evokes the dynamism of those years when great shipping companies competed to build the biggest, fastest ocean liners; scientific advances dazzled the public with visions of a world transformed; and the rich outdid one another with ostentatious displays of wealth. Against this background, Marconi races against incredible odds and relentless skepticism to perfect his invention: the wireless, a prime catalyst for the emergence of the world we know today. Meanwhile, Crippen, “the kindest of men,” nearly commits the perfect murder.

Oh man. Another awesome Erik Larson book that I can't believe took me this long to read. And it's on a subject that I knew little to nothing about. Amazing! It took me a bit to really get into this volume, but once I did, I was hooked. Larson has an amazing way of making the reader care about the characters and keep us on the edge of our seat throughout. My favorite parts of this volume were the politics of Marconi's business dealings. So very very interesting and complicated! The ending was a bit abrupt for a Larson book, but I was still satisfied by the story and conclusion.

tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Erik Larson, history, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 07.26.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2)

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 361

Rating: 3/5 stars  Movie: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR YA, 100 YA); Book to Movie

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

I didn't have super high expectations for this sequel, but I was still disappointed. There's too much misdirection and confusion. I didn't feel that the characters grew at all. We just get nonstop action for 361 pages. Overall, I just wasn't interested in the book...

Title: The Scorch Trials: The Graphic Novel Prelude

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: kaBoom 2015

Genre: YA Fantasy, Comic

Pages: 96

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Randomly saw this on the shelf and grabbed it. The volume contains a few different short comics about people and events before The Scorch Trials. I loved the story centering on the creation of WICKED and the big players. Plus we get some interesting insight into Brenda and Jorge. I actually liked this volume more than The Scorch Trials.

Movie:

J and I finally watched the movie last night and basically picked it apart the entire time. I'm so not impressed with the movie. They changed a ton of major events and added some characters. I was so confused the entire time. And the victims of the Flare? Atrocious! The filmmakers went all Resident Evil with them when I saw them more like Reavers from Firefly... As J said, "by tomorrow, I will have forgotten the entire movie." Yep, my thoughts exactly...

The Maze Runner

  • #0.5 The Kill Order
  • #0.6 The Fever Code
  • #1 The Maze Runner
  • #2 The Scorch Trials
  • #2.5 Thomas’s First Memory of the Flare
  • #3 The Death Cure
  • #3.5 The Maze Runner Files
tags: 100 YA, 3 stars, 4 stars, Book to Movie, fantasy, graphic novel, James Dashner, NPR Teen, perpetual, post-apocalyptic
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Thursday 07.21.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Last Star by Rick Yancey

Title: The Last Star (Fifth Wave #3)

Author: Rick Yancey

Publisher: Putnam 2016

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 338

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - 365 Days of YA; Finishing the series; 52 Books - W29

The enemy is Other. The enemy is us. They’re down here, they’re up there, they’re nowhere. They want the Earth, they want us to have it. They came to wipe us out, they came to save us.

But beneath these riddles lies one truth: Cassie has been betrayed. So has Ringer. Zombie. Nugget. And all 7.5 billion people who used to live on our planet. Betrayed first by the Others, and now by ourselves.

In these last days, Earth’s remaining survivors will need to decide what’s more important: saving themselves . . . or saving what makes us human.

I wasn't too excited about The Infinite Sea, but this volume redeemed the series for me. Thankfully we got back to some character development instead of constant action. And we get a satisfies, if not predictable, conclusion to the story. I almost wish this series was a two-parter instead of a trilogy. A lot of fat could have been trimmed from the second and third books to make one volume.

Ffith Wave:

  • #1 The 5th Wave
  • #2 The Infinite Sea
  • #3 The Last Star
tags: 365 Days of YA, 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Finishing the Series, perpetual, Rick Yancey, science fiction, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 07.19.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood

Publisher: 1985

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Pages: 325

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Classic from 20th Century; What's in a Name - Profession; Women Authors

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable.

Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now....

A reread for this month's book club. I first read The Handmaid's Tale way back in college for one of my women's studies classes. I was blown away by the parallels to our current society. I love Atwood's presentation of this tale that may or not be true. Offred is an intriguing character full of contradictions. I love that she is a flawed character. She could be anyone. We join her on a journey through the treacherous world of Gilead. I can't wait to have a great book club discussion.

tags: 5 stars, Margaret Atwood, Popsugar, speculative fiction, What's in a Name, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.15.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato

Title: The Glassblower of Murano

Author: Marina Fiorato

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 2009

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 348

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors; 52 Books - W28

Venice, 1681. Glassblowing is the lifeblood of the Republic, and Venetian mirrors are more precious than gold. Jealously guarded by the murderous Council of Ten, the glassblowers of Murano are virtually imprisoned on their island in the lagoon. But the greatest of the artists, Corradino Manin, sells his methods and his soul to the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, to protect his secret daughter. In the present day his descendant, Leonora Manin, leaves an unhappy life in London to begin a new one as a glassblower in Venice. As she finds new life and love in her adoptive city, her fate becomes inextricably linked with that of her ancestor and the treacherous secrets of his life begin to come to light.

Our book club selection for July. This particular book has been sitting on my shelves for awhile after picking it up for super cheap at Half Price Books. I'm not sure why I can bypassing it as I did enjoy this historical fiction. At first I was hesitant about switching from the past to the present and back. Often those transitions are clunky. Thankfully Fiorato weaves the two stories together in a way that had me intrigued. I learned a lot about glassblowing and Venice. As a character, I didn't connect that well to Leonora, but I still wanted to read her story. Overall, a decent historical fiction novel.

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Marina Fiorato, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 07.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick

Title: Valiant Ambition

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick

Publisher: Viking 2016

Genre: Nonfiction - U.S. History

Pages: 427

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; Popsugar - Blue Cover

In September 1776, the vulnerable Continental Army under an unsure George Washington (who had never commanded a large force in battle) evacuates New York after a devastating defeat by the British Army. Three weeks later, near the Canadian border, one of his favorite generals, Benedict Arnold, miraculously succeeds in postponing the British naval advance down Lake Champlain that might have ended the war. Four years later, as the book ends, Washington has vanquished his demons and Arnold has fled to the enemy after a foiled attempt to surrender the American fortress at West Point to the British. After four years of war, America is forced to realize that the real threat to its liberties might not come from without but from within.

Apparently I am in the middle of a huge American Revolution kick. J and I are obsessed with watching Turn on AMC and listening to the Hamilton soundtrack. Nevermind that I've always been a fan of history, I've found myself craving history books lately. I few weeks back I finished Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea and realized that he had just released a new book centered on the American Revolution. Thankfully I spied it at the library last week and immediately snatched it up. So good! In general I know how this story played out, but I was constantly fascinated by the details. It was the little things along with excerpts from letters that sucked me into the story. I was riveted from page one. Philbrick definitely has a way with narrative history. Never once did I get lost or confused by the information. I went along on the journey highlighting what would ultimately be two opposing forces: Washington and Arnold. I think I liked this one better than Philbrick's Mayflower. Fascinating story! Now I want to run off and get the book that Turn the television series is based on. Guess I need some more American Revolution in my life.

tags: 5 stars, Nathaniel Philbrick, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure, Popsugar, U-S- History
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 07.07.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Title: Etiquette and Espionage (The Finishing School #1)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 307

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

I picked this series up on the basis of my enjoyment of the Parasol Protectorate series. This particular series is set a few decades before that one. And I enjoyed this one also. I love how this series throws the reader right into the action. We are forced to figure out what is going on right along with Sophronia. The convention definitely works in this instance. While I like Sophronia, I think the side characters really make this series for me. I loved meeting all the professors and students. Plus, we get some intriuging scenes with Genevieve Lefoux. Love the connections to the Parasol Protectorate series. The writing isn't quite as exciting as as the other series, but this is young adult. And I'm okay with it. I can't wait to read the next volume.

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: 4 stars, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 07.06.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't... by Gail Carriger

Title: The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't, the Mummy that Was, and the Cat in the Jar (The Parasol Protectorate #5.5)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: 2014

Genre: Steampunk Paranormal

Pages: 32

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

A short tale of mummies, werewolves, and well preserved felines set in the world of the Parasol Protectorate. Alessandro Tarabotti and his valet, Floote, are on a mission in Egypt when they encounter visiting tourists and things go all pie shaped. What is his real mission and will his Aunt Archangelica approve of his treatment of her cat?

A little short story about Alexia Tarabotti's father. Last night I finished a very intense book (High Rise by J.G. Ballard) and wasn't ready for bed yet but also didn't want to start some other intense book. Scrolling through my Kindle app, I realized that I had this story still sitting unread. So I dove in. This was a nice little throwback to the Parasol Protectorate series. We get to see Alexia's father in action in Egypt and we get some information about the werewolf that wasn't. We also revisit Floote. This was such a fun little short story. It got me in the mood to start Carriger's Finishing School series.

Parasol Protectorate

  • #1 Soulless
  • #2 Changeless
  • #3 Blameless
  • #4 Heartless
  • #5 Timeless
  • #5.5 The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't...
tags: 4 stars, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, steampunk
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 07.02.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Lure of the Moonflower by Lauren Willig

Title: The Lure of the Moonflower (Pink Carnation #12)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 475

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W27

Portugal, December 1807. Jack Reid, the British agent known as the Moonflower (formerly the French agent known as the Moonflower), has been stationed in Portugal and is awaiting his new contact. He does not expect to be paired with a woman—especially not the legendary Pink Carnation.

All of Portugal believes that the royal family departed for Brazil just before the French troops marched into Lisbon. Only the English government knows that mad seventy-three-year-old Queen Maria was spirited away by a group of loyalists determined to rally a resistance. But as the French garrison scours the countryside, it’s only a matter of time before she’s found and taken.

It’s up to Jane to find her first and ensure her safety. But she has no knowledge of Portugal or the language. Though she is loath to admit it, she needs the Moonflower. Operating alone has taught her to respect her own limitations. But she knows better than to show weakness around the Moonflower—an agent with a reputation for brilliance, a tendency toward insubordination, and a history of going rogue.

What a way to end a series! I was in love with this volume from page one. Jack and Jane has always been intriguing characters. It was fitting to end the series with their story.  I loved diving beneath the surface of the Pink Carnation and the Moonflower. As to the story itself, I loved the plot line. We get lots of great action and some actual historical events thrown in. Plus, the reappearance of the Gardener fit perfectly! I was sad to see one of my favorite series end, but it was quite of an ending. Now I feel like I should Lauren Willig's other books...

Pink Carnation:

  • #1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
  • #2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
  • #3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
  • #4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
  • #5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
  • #6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
  • #7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
  • #8 The Orchid Affair
  • #8.5 Away in a Manger
  • #8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
  • #9 The Garden Intrigue
  • #10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
  • #11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
  • #12 The Lure of the Moonflower
tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Lauren Willig, Read My Own Damn Books, romance
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Forevermore by Kristen Calihan -- Release Day!

It's release day for the final book in the Darkest London series! Check out my review, an exclusive review, and a giveaway below!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

An Awesome Excerpt From Forevermore:

One might think being an immortal was a blessing, never grow old, never grow sick, never die. At one time in St. John Evernight’s life, he considered it a blessing too. He would be around long after the simple humans who surrounded him were nothing but dust. They could stare all they liked at his “strange” hair and frosty green eyes. They could gossip and speculate about him until they lost their voices. It didn’t matter. He was untouchable, and they were but fragile sacks of blood and bone.

How naive he’d been. Because living forever merely meant a lack of escape from the desolation of regret and loneliness. He knew now that he could walk down Jermyn Street endlessly, see the sands of time shift and rearrange before him, and never be a part of life.

“Brooding, Mr. Evernight?”

Sin almost jumped at the sudden sound of Augustus’s voice by his side. Damn, the blasted man loved to startle him. He gave Augustus a passing glance. Dressed in conservative brown tweed and a bowler hat, the angel appeared every inch the English gentlemen, save for his dark coloring that marked him to be from Southern climes.

“It’s really quite the trick, popping up like a soap bubble whenever you choose, Augustus. You must teach me how one day.”

The man’s mouth twitched. “With your luck, you’d pop up in the middle of a parliamentary session.”

Yes, Sin had abominable luck. Or perhaps it was more a matter of making abominable choices.

“You’re brooding again,” Augustus remarked.

“I’m not brooding. This is simply my face.”

Augustus snorted but remained silent as they walked along, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall.

“Care to tell me why you called me here?” Sin asked, when they came upon the grounds of Westminster. For the past year, Sin had been in Rome, soaking in the warmer temperatures, drinking espresso in cafes along the Piazza della Rotunda, under the shade of the ancient Pantheon. He’d eaten simple but delicious food, and listened to the rapid fire of Italian, and felt…well, not peace, but a measure of contentment.

Until Augustus had sent for him. Returning to England sat like a stone in his gut. But he would obey. Augustus was his mentor, and the man who’d given him salvation. The price was a lifetime of servitude. To be fair, his role was for justice, not evil, which was a nice change of pace.

A massive dray rattled past, kicking up dust and sending a fug of stale manure into the air. They hurried past the cloud and headed for Westminster Abbey. Sin hadn’t planned on visiting today, but here they were all the same. He wondered if Augustus somehow had led him to their usual meeting place or if Sin had merely headed that way because of the man’s sudden arrival.

He’d like to think the latter. It did not sit well with him having another control his actions. Not since a certain evil fae had kept Sin as a blood slave for years. Even now, the memory made his stomach turn.

Not a soul acknowledged them as they walked through the abbey and into the cloisters. Here, a rare bit of sunlight peeked through the constant cloud cover and cast lacy shadows along the walkway. The sound of their boot heels clacked out a steady rhythm as they strolled along.

“Layla returns to London tonight.”

At the mention of her name, Sin’s heart stilled within his breast. He’d tried his best to ward off all finer feelings, to remain numb, detached from life. And yet he could not, for the life of him, remain immune to Layla Starling. His childhood friend. The one woman who could take his breath, his reason, simply by laying eyes upon her.

Stuffing his shaking hands into his trouser pockets, Sin forced himself to keep an even tone. “So then I am to begin watching over her?”

God, but he did not want to. It would be agony, staying so close to her and never being allowed to show his true feelings. And yet a thrum of anticipation went through him at the mere prospect of seeing Layla once more.

“Are you ready?” Augustus asked, though his expression told Sin he fully expected an affirmative answer.

So Sin told him the only truth left to him. “I will not fail her.”

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

USA Today bestselling author Kristen Callihan is a writer because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewers' Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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Darkest London Series

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore

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tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.28.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

East of West Vol. 2-4

Title: East of West Volume 2: We Are All One, Volume 3: There is No Us, Volume 4: Who Wants War?

Author: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta

Publisher: Image

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144; 144; 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel The second volume of the most exciting new book in the industry is here! "We Are All One" follows our cast around the fractured future-scape of America as we learn more about a world that's rapidly coming to a end.

It's the third volume of the Eisner-nominated EAST OF WEST. "There Is No Us" sees the breaking apart of the future-scape of America as the world races forward towards the apocalypse."WHO WANTS WAR?" sees YEAR TWO of the Apocalypse kick into high gear.

I sped through the next three volumes of East of West in one day. They are just so good... I love where Hickman is the taking the story of the apocalypse. We get to see all the different players and their reactions to the actions of the Horsemen and Death. We finally get to see the progress of the Beast and the Prophet Orion. I am very intrigued by Balloon. And I want to hear more about the Endless Nation. Such great volumes. I can't wait to read the fifth volume.

 
tags: 5 stars, graphic novel, Jonathan Hickman
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 06.26.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla by Lauren Willig

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Title: The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla (Pink Carnation #11)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: Penguin 2014

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 451

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books - W26

In October of 1806, the Little Season is in full swing, and Sally Fitzhugh has had enough of the endless parties and balls. With a rampant vampire craze sparked by the novel The Convent of Orsino, it seems no one can speak of anything else. But when Sally hears a rumor that the reclusive Duke of Belliston is an actual vampire, she cannot resist the challenge of proving such nonsense false. At a ball in Belliston Square, she ventures across the gardens and encounters the mysterious Duke.

Lucien, Duke of Belliston, is well versed in the trouble gossip can bring. He’s returned home to dispel the rumors of scandal surrounding his parents’ deaths, which hint at everything from treason to dark sorcery. While he searches for the truth, he welcomes his fearsome reputation—until a woman is found dead in Richmond. Her blood drained from her throat.

Lucien and Sally join forces to stop the so-called vampire from killing again. Someone managed to get away with killing the last Duke of Belliston. But they won’t kill this duke—not if Sally has anything to say about it.

So this book was a bit of an odd one for the series. I enjoyed reading it, but it lacked the spy angle from most of the other books. I did enjoy Lucien as a main character. Sally got on my nerves a few times throughout. And I kept thinking of her as a schoolgirl, not a leading lady. I realize time has passed since the beginning of the series, but it was a bit weird. Overall, I enjoyed the book but definitely not my favorite of the series.

Pink Carnation:

  • #1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
  • #2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
  • #3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
  • #4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
  • #5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
  • #6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
  • #7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
  • #8 The Orchid Affair
  • #8.5 Away in a Manger
  • #8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
  • #9 The Garden Intrigue
  • #10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
  • #11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
  • #12 The Lure of the Moonflower
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Lauren Willig, romance
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 06.26.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
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